The Sentence by Elaine Cantrell

Author:Elaine Cantrell [Cantrell, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Astraea Press
Published: 2012-03-24T03:36:26+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Clint, why don’t we pay a visit to the Dunns this morning?” Reverend Amos asked the next morning. “I’d like to talk to the boy.”

Clint pulled his clothes out of the dryer and started folding his shirts. “I don’t know, Reverend. I mean, the Dunns aren’t likely to welcome a visit from a preacher.”

Reverend Amos pursed his lips. “No, but they’re getting one anyway. Let’s be on our way.”

“Would you like for me to ride along with you?” Cynthia asked.

“Not this first time,” Reverend Amos said. “Let me get the lay of the land first.”

Cynthia nodded and started folding Clint’s shirts while Clint and Reverend Amos got into the car and drove to the Dunn family’s house. They rattled and bounced up the rutted driveway where they parked beside a rusty, single-wide house trailer. One of the windows was broken, and someone had stuffed an old, blue rug into the hole. A set of rickety cement blocks led to the front door. When Reverend Amos knocked, Clint saw that the glass had fallen from the storm door, but the frame was still attached to the trailer.

What sounded like a dozen dogs bayed their hearts out the minute the two men knocked. They heard someone inside curse at the dogs. A skinny, shirtless man who needed a bath and a shave jerked the door open. “Yeah? What do you want?”

Clint admired Reverend Amos who acted as if he had received a royal welcome. He stuck out his hand. “Mr. Dunn? My name is Neal Amos, and this is Clint Hayes. I’m the minister of Saved By Grace Community Church. If you have a minute, I’d like to talk to you.”

The man eyed them with suspicion. “I got no use for preachers. Be on your way.”

“We’d only take a minute of your time.”

Mr. Dunn answered by slamming the door in their faces.

“That was quick,” Clint muttered.

Reverend Amos carefully made his way down the cement steps. “Yes, but it was pretty much what I expected.”

Clint frowned. “I hope this doesn’t mean you want me to stop picking up Tommy.”

Out of the corner of his eye Clint saw movement at one of the back windows. Somebody was watching them. It might be Tommy, but he doubted it. The hair on his neck stood up. “Somebody’s watching us,” he muttered to Reverend Amos.

Reverend Amos nodded. “I think you’re right.” He almost smiled. “Seems like I can feel eyes boring into me.”

“Eyes behind a rifle.”

As the preacher cranked his car, Clint saw Tommy coming across the yard. “That boy’s in a world of danger, Reverend.”

Reverend Amos looked sterner than Clint had ever seen him look before. “He’s in spiritual danger as well as physical. We’ll pick him up every Sunday we can find him. I know it’s a cliché, but the Lord really does work in mysterious ways. I think he brought Tommy to us for a reason.”

They drove in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Clint said, “I thought I came from a hard place, but this is different.

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